Luna de miel

I'm going to go slightly out of order with this post. I've got lots of great pics from a nice little post-wedding-type trip David and I just took, and I'd really just like to share them now.

We went on a cruise. Neither of us had ever been before. We were extra-careful to choose an itinerary that was appealing to us, but our inexperience left us feeling just a teeny bit skeptical. So, we hedged our bets and extended the trip by hopping off the boat at the last stop and staying an extra week. I highly recommend this.

Turns out, cruises are awesome! And very low-maintenance, just as everyone promised me. Food was amazing. We made some new friends at our dinner table, and there was always some form of entertainment going on. (I think my favorite was the night we went clubbing. We may not have been the best dancers on the floor, but I'm pretty sure we had more fun than anyone else.)

We sort of made things up as we went and chose our excursions the night before each port, which revealed a very unexpected trend:

Grand Cayman: diving

Roatan: zip-line tour, then diving

Belize: charter plane ride to the Cayes, then diving

Cozumel/Playa del Carmen: diving in the ocean, going to church, roaming 5th Ave, and diving in a cenote (imagine spelunking...only the cave is filled with water)

Turns out we're both obsessed! Will we ever be able to plan a trip again without first considering if we'll be able to dive there?

We diversified a little when we got to beautiful Tulum: See ruins, count iguanas, be lazy, watch Mexico beat France, watch LA beat Boston, take naps on the beach, go for long walks on the beach, try to take pictures of the stars, try to find turtles laying eggs, hitch a ride from fishermen to check out the ruins again from the water at "sunrise," mourn the imminent return to "real life..."

All good things must end. But you know what? Even though we're no longer lounging around paraiso, life is still good.

For your information,

I got a job.

I am thrilled to be working for this company. I'll start working in Bethesda after David and I get back from the honeymoon.

Speaking of. Wedding adventure post coming once the dust settles...you can go here and here to get a preliminary taste. :)

Wedding prep is fun. Sometimes.

Nowadays there are some advantages when it comes to preparing for a wedding that weren't necessarily available just a few years ago. Greatest of all is that we have the ever-expanding Internet, in all its social media/online vending glory. It is certainly easier to connect and find people, we can keep in touch with vendors from afar, and we can find and make purchases for items that may have otherwise just not been possible.

This convenience definitely comes with its ups and downs, as we've explored the not-yet-mature realm of online social etiquette and taken some risks when it comes to placing orders from websites we just don't know that much about.

I have now found the greatest example ever.

Behold. The beads I ordered online for the ladies:

I was unaware at the time that the vendor in question was a Chinese wholesaler - not that it matters much, as long as the beads get here in time, right?

When the package came (correctly labeled as containing 10 strings of beads), it seemed a bit light. Well, I guess something may have gotten lost in translation. Instead of the anticipated beads, I got this:

For the pictures alone, I think I'm willing to just cut my losses and move on.

You may now call me Master Croshaw

...but only for a couple weeks. :)

Spring is in the air...

And no, I'm not talking about the record-high pollen counts currently facing the greater DC area. It's just a beautiful time of year in DC. Actually one of my favorites. It's the time when the weather gets nice and the trees turn green but the humidity hasn't caught up yet. I think I say this every year.

In any case, it always provides lots of good excuses to neglect my finals and be outdoors!

Excuse #1: 4th annual Lupus Walk in downtown DC.

I've gotten to do this every year since inception with some of my friends, and it's exciting to see how much it grows every year.

David joined us this year. And you can't see stickers that say so, but we were walking for Crystal, my sister-in-law.

Excuse #2: Salt Flats

David and I just took a whirlwind trip to Salt Lake to take care of some business for an event taking place exactly 30 days hence. We were incredibly efficient, if I do say so myself. (Go team ACDC!) I even got to meet some of his aunts, uncles, and cousins, and we took a side trip to check out the Salt Flats...or supposedly that's what we would have seen, if not for the unusually high levels of precipitation that Utah has been seeing lately.

Still made for some beautiful pictures - including another that would make Dad proud.

Our flight was delayed on the way home, but we sat on the plane for so long that I was able to watch a spectacular sunset.

Excuse #3: 2nd annual RunAmuck!!

David and I participated in this race last year. It's a 5K that entails running up and down hills, climbing over/crawling under obstacles, wading through a lake, and lots and lots of mud. Last year this was actually one of our first "dates," and we had a blast...but we were disappointed by the degree of muddiness we had obtained by the end of the race.

This year, we vowed, there would be much more mud to show for our efforts. We even wore colors that would allow for better presentation of said muddiness.

I am happy to say that we succeeded, thanks in part to our very intentional efforts at dirtifying ourselves, and thanks in part to the grandiose efforts of the RunAmuck planners in upping the opportunities for everyone to crawl through the mud (including right at the finish line). Aside from just getting really dirty, both David and I earned ourselves some battle wounds from crawling through the mud and kicking underwater logs. Yeah, I know. We're so hard-core.

If you haven't had enough yet, here is more of the race and our muddy selves in all our glory. Please note wherever you can, the costumes in the background. People got seriously creative. Maybe we'll do that next year.

What just happened?!

So I'm graduating soon. I know because everyone keeps reminding me, not so much because it's on my mind. Apparently I'm fixated on exactly two weeks after the graduation date, which naturally means that the end of school has seriously snuck up on me. I had a sort of "aha" moment as I was walking down the hall at school today and realized that my Kogod days were numbered. It's a staggering thought, and it leaves me feeling all sorts of emotions. I have no intentions of pursuing another degree after this one, which means I'm about to enter into my last finals week. Ever. Today I had my last Derivatives class. Ever. Monday is my last graduate class. Ever. How did this time come so quickly?

Of course, I'm excited about this accomplishment. It's been a long, grueling lesson on time management and how to play well with others, and it feels good to finish something I've worked so hard at. I honestly feel like grad school is the best investment I've ever made, and of course it's exhilarating to reach the pinnacle of said investment.

But it also means that it's almost time for another transition.

I like school. I think I'm pretty good at school. I've grown quite comfortable with my current circumstances and acquaintances as a student. I love the constant flow of new and different information that keeps my brain from atrophy. As I sat in class tonight, I was consciously trying to savor whatever last vestiges of wisdom I could glean from my brilliant professor. I feel in my element when I'm roaming the halls of Kogod, and I'll always retain a high level of gratitude for what I have gained from this school.

I don't like change. I know it's good for me and whatever, but that doesn't make it any less unpleasant. It's like moving from the top of one ladder to the bottom rung of another. When I was younger, I was much better at doing things that absolutely freaked me out on a regular basis - like leaving home for college, living in Spain, moving to DC - because I knew it would help me to grow. But after I got to DC and life became a little more stable, I slowed down a bit on the freak-out activities. School has upped the frequency a little, but I'm still feeling a little rusty. (In case you're wondering, I'm not referring here to change of a marital nature. Like I mentioned, I think about that change so much that I forget about my own graduation.) Now, I've been "career girl" before, and I know it has its perks too. I'm just suddenly not in such a hurry to get back there. I'd like to spend a little more time in warm and cozy academia, rather than venture out into the big, bad, menacing real world.

But you know what? Every one of those freak-out transitions had their growing pains, but then they became something beautiful. I just had to acclimate and start climbing that ladder.

I guess that means all I have left to do is figure out which ladder it's going to be...

Tribute

I was chatting with Princess the other day, and I realized what an amazing feat she is about to accomplish. I know I've got a lot on my plate and whatever this semester, but as long as I'm careful with my time, I can manage alright.

Let's talk about Princess.

Princess actually played a pivotal role in my return to school. If left to my own devices, I almost definitely would have put it off for at least another semester - if not indefinitely. But Princess would have none of it. She bullied me into finishing my application right before the deadline, which has drastically affected the direction my life has taken over the last two years and given a serious boost to my confidence, self-awareness, and personal development. For that, I am grateful.

But I digress. Back to Princess.

She's in law school. She started the same time I started business school. From what I understand, law school is HARD even if you're just taking the typical load. But Princess is made of tougher stuff. Girl's taking 19.5 credits this semester, because she wants to graduate early. 19.5! Credits! Of law school! I don't know what a typical load is, but for me it starts to get a little hairy once you pass 12. I imagine it's similar for law.

So does she spend her life stuck in the library, buried in books and papers? Nope! Look at all the fun she manages to have! Adventure finds her wherever she goes. It's actually made me jealous on numerous occasions since she left DC and keeps having adventures without me.

Her finals are this week, and she's still managed to call me for a chat - on more than one occasion. The last time we talked, she had to cut the conversation short because she didn't want to be late for her water polo tournament. I don't know how she does it. But even more than that, I don't know how she can say that she doesn't know how I do it.

But what I do know is that I'm excited for her to finish with those finals so she can get out here for a month of play interning.

Cheers to Princess!

On the move...

Last weekend I vacated what was my place of residence for the past 5 years.

A moment of silence to reminisce and commemorate the end of an era, please.

my old room before the move...


...during... (yes, it's true that I slept in a sleeping bag on my bare mattress on the last night)

...and after. Weird. I'm glad I won't be around when the landlord paints my walls back to boring bone white.

It's going to take me awhile to wrap my mind around not living there. It feels very surreal to not be living with those girls. We've been telling everyone that the house imploded on its own awesomeness.

But on the plus side, I get fabulous sunset views from my room in my new humble abode. And it will be David's humble abode too, come June.

That's happy.

Everyone in my house moved out and didn't replace ourselves, which meant we also had to move out at least a decade of other girls' belongings that had been left behind as people have cycled through this house. Foutons, linens, bikes, cabinets, rugs, kitchen utensils, appliances, and lots and lots of other little (or not-so-little) knickknacks. I think we just singlehandedly kept Goodwill fully stocked for about a month.

As you can imagine, five years of buildup has left me with plenty of stuff too. (Granted, this isn't all mine...but you get the idea.)

All 15 members of Team Move joined forces for a flurry of loading, unloading, scrubbing, sweeping, raking, and emptying. It was a humbling reminder of what awesome friends I have.

Goodbye, 22206. I'll miss most things about you.

Hello, 22202. I'm excited to get to know you.

In other news...it's Cherry Blossom Festival time!! David and I got up extra-early one day this week to catch the beauty and beat the crowds. Beauty, check. Lack of crowds...not so much. Ah well, still totally worth it.

Happy Easter/Conference weekend!

Last Spring Break ever

I treasure my Spring Breaks. Why? Because I never had one during undergrad (except once, sort of, when they needed the students to clear out for the Olympics). I remember thinking it was really great that we got out of BYU a week earlier and whatnot, but I sure am glad AU doesn't follow the same policy. With this in mind, I've tried to make the most of the two Spring Breaks grad school has bequeathed to me.

How do I take advantage this year? I go to Fort Lauderdale to meet up with David after his work trip, kick it with Leslie and Alex, and get Scuba certified!

We had so much fun hanging out with Leslie and Alex. They took us to Miami (bienvenido) for Cuban food, and they practiced one of their taco truck dishes on us (I think it was borrowed from Lori?). T'was divine. If I could find a taco truck here that sold this dish, I would go there every day. Just saying.

We also got to spend a little time on the beach by their house.

Turns out there's a pirate alley on the beach with a pirate gift shop, pirate bar, pirate wax figures, and a pirate photo op. Of course, we had to partake.

Obviously, David makes better pirate faces than me. I'll have to practice.

Leslie also took us for an airboat ride in the Everglades! Trivia for you: Did you know the Everglades is actually an extra-wide and extra-slow-moving river?

On our way down, we tried to figure out the difference between Okeechobee and Okefenokee. Mostly because they're just fun to say. Do you know the difference? Without asking Google?

We saw a lot of birds and one single alligator. Then we celebrated when we got back to land by sampling some fried gator. They did the same thing at the Mamba village I visited in Kenya. Both times, I was a little disturbed that they show you the wildlife and then feed it to you. Both times, I partook anyway.

Scuba certification is something I've had every intention of getting done before now - but I didn't. David thought it might behoove me to get that taken care of. In case I might need it. In a couple months. For whatever reason.

In short - I loved it. It was a surreal experience. Once I figured out the buoyancy, I felt so freeeeee! On the open water dives we saw sea turtles, lots of tropical fish, a couple of nurse sharks, and a lobster - which my instructor, Erin, proceeded to catch with her bare hands.

Even though the paces are completely different, I would compare the sense of freedom to how I feel when I'm skiing. And that says something! I can see myself getting hooked on this hobby. Or maybe I already am?

You are my Muse

This semester's round of midterms were the most intense I've ever had. Fitting, I suppose, since it's my final round. For about a week straight, I spent most of my waking hours studying and reviewing (except for my blessed study-restricted Sunday). After all that, I still felt like I needed several more hours each day to feel like I was actually prepared for all five of my exams.

I knew, going into midterms, that things would be this way. So I scheduled in a few moments of mandatory respite. Because sometimes, you just need to burn off some stress, else you just won't make it out with your sanity intact.

One night I took a cardiovascular respite, and I ended up swimming a mile. I've only gone that far one other time ever, and it's been awhile since that happened. Apparently I had more to burn off that I realized.

An unscheduled moment of respite was brought to me by the reliable ingenuity of a old quality standby, OK Go. Their low-budget, creative music videos (like this one and this one) never fail to impress and bring a smile to my face. I'm always wondering, what brilliance will they come up with next, and how can they possibly outdo their last vid? Answer: They'll recruit a high school band to remind me that this too shall pass. Well timed, boys. Well timed.

And then there was Muse.

Oh, delightful respite of wonder and bliss. How I love thee and thy awe-inspiring musical abilities. When I saw Muse open for U2, all I wanted was for them to come back and headline in a smaller venue. Wish granted!

I actually neglected to bring my camera, which only enhanced the experience because I wasn't constantly interrupting my experience to document it. I was only able to catch a few shots and low-quality snippets on my phone - and leave a fun voice mail for traveling David. (I don't regret that he had to miss Midterms-Crazed Abby, but it is a shame he didn't get to partake of the goodness of Muse.)

I had some pretty seriously high expectations. Unsurprisingly, Muse delivered. If they're coming to a city near you...go. See them. Run, do not walk, to the ticket office and get some seats before they sell out. Please. And you're welcome.

And you know what? Thanks to the reprieves and lots of prayers, I survived the mighty midterms. Queue the wind-down (my favorite respite of all - details forthcoming)!